Wildlife watching on Knoydart

Knoydart is home to some of the most iconic species in the Highlands.
The rangers know the best times and places to see wildlife. Regular sightings
include:

Buzzards – a common
sight throughout the peninsula, even around the village. This large raptor can
often be spotted perching on telegraph posts or soaring above the moorland
looking for prey.

Red deer ­– There are a
lot of red deer on the hills. In summer they are harder to find as they climb
high into the mountains but in winter they are a common sight down by the coast
and along the Airor road. Autumn is the best time to watch red deer when
the stags start the rut. Listen for their impressive roaring in the glens.

Common and grey seals – Grey seals
can be seen anywhere along the coast but the best place to see common seals
(the rarer ones!) is around Sandaig Bay.

Grey herons – There is a
heronry in the trees by the village so spotting a heron is not difficult during
the summer. Even throughout the winter they can easily be seen fishing along
the coast.

Oystercatchers – Long Beach
is a hot spot for oystercatchers. Their black and white plumage and orange
bills makes them stand out on the beach.

Dolphins and porpoise – often commonly
mistaken for one another at first glance however both are not srangers to the
loch and often chase the boat coming back with it’s beer run. They have been
known to give us some spectacular wildlife water shows as they play in front of
the village pub and the arriving ribs.

Minke whale – These fellows
enjoy more open space but frequent the sound of sleat and waters towards the
small isles, playing out beyond the entrance to Mallaig Harbour. Wy ot charter
one of our excellent local boats to take you whale spotting for the day,
sightings are more common than you might think and the operators keep in touch
with each other to communicate pod movements in the area to help you get your
sighting.

Knoydart is also home to some more elusive species. You can never
guarantee a sighting of any wildlife but by joining the rangers your chances
are much better. With some luck you may see:

Golden eagles – One pair
nests on Foundation land and they can be seen just about anywhere soaring above
the mountains. Best times to see them are on warm, sunny evenings.

Otters – Just after
low tide otters venture out to hunt along the shore. Try spending some
time at the wildlife hide at Long Beach there are a few otter olts along the
shoreline look out for there tracks weaving in and out of the grassy patches
that skirt the loch by the road.

Pine martens – Quite a
common mammal but not often seen. Look at dawn and dusk in Inverie Woods.
You are more likely to see their scats on prominent rocks and on paths.

Red-throated divers – Divers nest
on upland hill lochs but feed at sea. Look out for them on the shore in Inverie
Bay. Sea eagles ­– There are no sea
eagles nesting on Knoydart (yet!) but every year more and more sightings are
reported. The west coast of the peninsula is a good place to look.

As well as wildlife watching we have a fantastic Foundation’s Ranger
Service which offers a whole range of other tailor-made walks and activities
including:

The Ranger Service has also produced a wildlife-watching booklet,
specific to Knoydart, which can be purchased directly from them. If you
fancy striking out in your own group, contact the rangers for a list of walks
leaflets, which include day walks as well as more strenuous options.

Free Guided walks

The Rangers run a series of free guided walks on Wednesdays (see below
for the spring schedule). Start-point for all activities is the display
room, next to the Old Forge. The 11.30am walks are timetabled so you have time
to eat before catching the 3pm ferry back to Mallaig. Please note walks
may be altered or cancelled depending on numbers.

Guided walks. There are a
number of ranger-led guided walks; from two hour wildlife rambles in the woods
to all-day hikes in the hills. The schedule for guided walks is reproduced
below.

Nature trails. There are
a variety of trails in Inverie woods, behind the village. These walks take
you through a mix of broadleaf and coniferous woodland, home to a variety of
woodland birds and mammals. Self-guiding
walks leaflets which can be purchased for £1 from the Display Room. Discover
some of the hidden gems to be found only minutes from Inverie village, or
explore further afield in the woods or along the coast.

Mountain bike
trails. There are plans to develop a series of mountain bike trails in Inverie
woods behind the village. The Knoydart Forest Trust have already opened a short
"skills loop", situated in the woods above the pier.